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The community-led Capital Facilities Advisory Committee (CFAC) arrived at a bond package recommendation with a majority consensus by the end of their March 30 meeting. Members will present their recommended projects and bond amount to the school board in June.
The school board is expected to consider the recommendation and act by July if it plans to place a bond on the November ballot.
CFAC gave a green light to a $615.4 million bond package that addresses the facility needs of all three of Highline’s aging comprehensive middle schools that have not been rebuilt yet.
They also agreed to recommend leveraging remaining insurance money to rebuild the Southern Heights site, enclose the two classroom wings and modernize it to fit the needs of CHOICE Academy (grades 6-12), Community Based Services (CBS) and the Realistic Transition Program (RTP).
Included in the recommended bond package is $50 million for critical needs and required maintenance districtwide, plus funds to kickstart the initial architectural design for Hilltop Elementary and Valley View Early Learning Center.
2026 CFAC Bond Package Recommendation
PROJECT
AMOUNT
Sylvester Middle School: Replacement
$180.3M
Cascade Middle School: Replacement
(at Salmon Creek Site)
$172.1M
Southern Heights Site: Partial Rebuild & Modernization for CHOICE Academy, RTP and CBS programs
The meeting opened with recognition of CFAC student co-chair Ana, a Mount Rainier High School senior graduating with the class of 2026. Ana was celebrated for her leadership and student advocacy. She is also a member of the Superintendent’s Student Leadership Team. Ana plans to attend the University of Washington with a four-year scholarship from Costco to cover her tuition.
Video Spotlights: Impact of New Evergreen & Tyee High Schools
The committee grounded their work by reflecting on the impact of previous CFAC recommendations, including the recently opened Evergreen and Tyee high school buildings, which were funded by the 2022 bond, with a 68% voter approval rate.
Consensus & Community Priorities
The committee reviewed a consensus-based decision-making framework before revisiting community-prioritized bond planning factors: health, safety, and security; building condition and infrastructure needs; equity and student impact.
Funds will be included for Big Picture (grades 6-12) if maintenance is needed for its aging facility, while district leaders explore future facility options. Likewise, maintenance funds will be set aside for Hilltop and Valley View to maintain their facilities through the design process and a future bond to fund construction.
Discussion about Repurposing Salmon Creek Site for Cascade Middle School
Concerns were also discussed regarding community feedback and documentation related to the Cascade at Salmon Creek plan, though the committee ultimately reaffirmed its inclusion in the baseline package.
While members acknowledged the concern expressed by some neighbors and community members, the large majority of CFAC members supported the recommendation to rebuild Cascade at the Salmon Creek Site for the following reasons:
$44 million in estimated savings compared to rebuilding at the current Cascade site, based on architectural site analysis and cost modeling.
Key cost factors at the current site include:
Limited buildable area: Wetland buffers on the north and a sewer easement that bisects the property reduce the footprint area where a school can be built.
More complex building design: A smaller footprint would require a taller, multi-story building (four stories anticipated), increasing construction cost and complexity.
Impact of existing sewer infrastructure: The sewer line would require special design solutions, like bridging between two separate buildings, which adds cost and complexity.
Site layout challenges: Limited space for parking, fields and student drop-off areas would require more intensive design. Topography changes make ADA access more difficult and costly.
Safety and circulation constraints: Tighter space makes it harder to separate buses, cars, pedestrians and emergency vehicle access.
Construction timing: If replaced at the existing site, Cascade would need to wait for the district’s one interim site, delaying the project and escalating costs due to inflation.
Both sites could include a field; a new playfield at the current Cascade site would be a little smaller than a new field at the Salmon Creek site.
Despite understanding the value of the community Shark Garden currently located in one of the unused fields at the Salmon Creek site, most members said it should be the priority of the school district to use the property as a school to serve students. The garden started as an experiential program for the former New Start High School, when it was at the Salmon Creek site. The volunteer garden board has a site use agreement with Highline Public Schools. The district has provided water for the garden.
Highline leaders communicated with the garden’s executive director when CFAC suggested the Salmon Creek site last fall. Highline staff have offered two alternative sites for the garden in an effort to support green space, including the Original Beverly Park site, where Innovation Heights Academy is now located (formerly New Start High School). A second option for the garden is to relocate to the current Cascade site, when Cascade moves to Salmon Creek, if the project and bond are approved by the school board and voters.
Comprehensive traffic studies will be conducted as part of the design and permitting process, which would address neighborhood concerns about traffic.
Beyond the Baseline Bond Package
Three Variations: Rebuild One More School + Initial Design for Two
Additional bond package variations were discussed that would include Chinook Middle School, Hilltop Elementary, or Valley View Early Learning Center – on top of the baseline package.
These bond package variations would total $615.4, $535, or $522.9 million, respectively.
A significant portion of the meeting focused on the Chinook, Hilltop, and Valley View projects. Members shared individual priorities and concerns, weighing equity, long-term costs, student safety, early learning needs and funding uncertainties, and community tax affordability.
CFAC Votes to Include Chinook in 2026 Bond Recommendation
Chinook emerged as the most consistently supported additional project, with many noting its aging condition, high maintenance needs, the number of students impacted, and the desire to not make one of the comprehensive middle schools wait.
Following extensive discussion, CFAC conducted several votes to reconcile differing perspectives. The committee reached strong consensus on recommending a bond package that includes the baseline projects plus Chinook Middle School, resulting in a total bond proposal of approximately $615.4 million. Nearly all members confirmed they could support the recommendation, even if the selected additional project was not everyone’s first choice, meeting the committee’s definition of consensus.
Members in support of including Chinook, and increasing the bond amount, made the case that waiting will only cause the project cost to increase. Besides not making one of the three aging comprehensive middle schools wait, they argued it makes fiscal sense to invest more now to address middle school facility needs before costs escalate further or an emergency disrupts learning and displaces many students.
A member noted that all the schools in the Des Moines area have already been replaced, and that including one of the schools in SeaTac will help more voters support the bond.
Initial Design Projects: Hilltop & Valley View
CFAC decided to include design dollars for Hilltop Elementary and Valley View Early Learning Center to help position these schools for a future bond.
Conclusion & Next Steps
The meeting concluded with an overview of next steps, including preparation of a CFAC presentation to the Highline School Board in June, appreciation for outgoing leadership, and thanks to members for their time, service, and commitment to students.
More Information
For a look back at topics discussed and information shared at previous CFAC meetings, visit our website at highlineschools.org/cfac to view past meeting summaries.
